Safe or vault.



A. S. CUSTBR.

SAFE 0R VAULT.

APPLICATNH FILED 11:13.11, 1911.

1,035,164. Patented Aug. 13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEETl 54 179 a 4" @14H3 2:92a /4 f7 5 f 7 GUID DDD

W/T/VE55E5 y/Mmv/y Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

A. S. OUSTER.

BAPE 0B VAULT.

Arruouxol rmm um. m1.

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unirsi) srATEs rrnnr formen.

ARNOLD S. CUSTBB, .OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 HERRING-HALL-MARVIN SAFE COMIANY, 0F NEW YORK', LN'. Y., v:A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

SAFE 0R VAULT.

ful-` Improvements in Safes or Vaults, of y which the followingis a specification.'

Burglarious'gattacks v'on safes or vaults have been heretofore attempted by the use of high explosives, for instance, nitro-glycerin, andburglarious attacks have also been more recently attempted by the use of heat action produced by the electric are, and laterally bythe oxygen-acetylene flame, or gas flame of similar nature,`which produces a high degree -of heat, locally applied, and most'recently bysthe employmentof the new lagency named thermit, which produces an intense heat and exceedingly rapid penetration of metal without'noise and has proven to be a most dangerous method of attack upon safes or vaults.^

It is the object of my invention to provide an improved construction for safes or vaults which guards against all of the methodsof attack mentionedor methodsof a similar nature.

My invention isapplicable primarily to built-up burglar-proof constructions in safes or vaults, and I have shown-the same as applied to a vault structure.

The invention will beffurtfher readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawings, in which latter:

Figure l represents' a front elevation of a safe or vault door 4with the jamb adjacent thereto, partly broken away. Fig. 2 is .a'

horizontal cross-section of the same on` the lineV 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section ofthe same on the line y-g/ of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on a line corresponding to the line :z2-m of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional detail of one of the inside chrome-steel plates, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged Vsectional detail on the line yf1/ of Fig. l, showing rthe parts adjacent to the joint between the door and jamb.

The construction shown is a preferred form, butit is obvious that my invention may be employed in other forms, a different number of inside layers of metal plates and insulation may be employed, and while I Specication of Letters Patent.

AApplicatianilled.:l='ebr:uary 6, 1911. Serial No. 606.909.

door inthe form shown Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

" have shown'the invention in connection with a door of polygonal vertical cross-section, known in the trade as a square door,it is obvious that t-he 'same may also be applied'to socalled round doors, or doors of other shape, and the invention may be applied to suitable parts of the safe or'vault structure.

1 represents the door and Q'the j amb. The comprises an outer plate .3 and-an/` inner plate 4, of metal, preferably of tenacious, as contradistinguished from brittle properties, for instance open hearth or Bessemer steel. The outer plate is preferably backed by a second plate 5 of metal, preferably of drill-resisting properties, for instance, so called chrome-steel, at

the rear of which a further metal plate 6 is located,the same being preferably of tenacious metal, as open hearth or Bessemer steel.v At the forward face ofthe inner metal plate there'is preferably a drill-resisting metal plate 7, preferably of chromesteel. rIhe arrangement of these plates is selective. The outer and inner plates are preferably of a size to encompass the width and height ofthe, door. in one piece. Alternate Ametal plate and insulation layers are located between the plates described as located at the front and rear of the structure. As shown, one or more series of inside metal "plates 8 are 'located between the forward` andrear plates mentioned, 'each of the series comprising a plurality of plates whose adjacent edges 9 are spaced apart for forming the s ace I0, preferably filled by an insulating lling 11. The respective series of inside plates, if more than one series, is employed, have their adjacent faces spaced apart, as shown bythe space 12, the series of inside ',metal'plates being spaced lfrom the outer and inner :plates by the spaces 1314. These last-named spaces are preferably filled with an insulating material, as shownA by the insulation layers l5, 16 and 17. The insulating material employed is preferably a non-conductor of electricity-and heat. It mayY be in the form of a hard-setting cement. Any suitable insulating material, preferably insulating against the electric current and heat or burning, may be employed.

The series of inside metal plates are preferably of drill-resisting material, for instance, so-called chrome-steeh The chromea. hart-,l but brittle "substance,

i I `l lu steel mentioned in practice usually comof roy invention.

Surrounding the -edge of the' door, there is preferably an edgeifrainin'g 20, which may be a steel frame, located between the vouter and inner metal plates of the door.'

'This framing preferablyv surrounds the edges of theA inside layers of drill-resisting. instal and insulation,the series of metah plates being insulated frointhe framing by tion of' electricity and heat from theouter' 25l portions of the door.v Esch of the pleteso an insulatingniateriall. This, insulating material 21j tney be in thel formof n sheet of insulation reeeiedat the H mezte face of theiraxning between thel framing end the alternate inside layersof'nietal' end insulin' tion of the door, thereby ins. alerting sei series of inside metal plates againstthe acthe said series of plates is preferably suru rounded by insulation, thereby insulating the .same froi'nveiich other v"and from the other parts of the structure.'

" The bodies of insulation betweenv the' :id-

l jacent edges of theindividual metal plates "fof the inside series of metalplates are pref.-y

' erebly very small'in cross-section compared .with the cross-sections of the individual in side metal plates. -Theseindlvulual insidev metal plates vpneferalily extend throughout a substantial part of the vst'ruetiu'e in which they. are contained. Theinsulations be# tween the adjacent edges ot" the .individual inet-al plates of succeedingseries of plates are preferably arrangedv in staggered or oi'set relation, as shown at a, t), and c, cl in Fig. l. l have showneach series comprised Lof' four pistes, having @horizontal and" a' Vertical 'space between their adjacent edges,

" although itis obvioustha-t the arrangement,

may dilei'-ivitl1out spirit of my invention, My invention is particularly' appl icaibleV tos built-up` structure, 'this builtfup struo--` ture 'beingfshown as-coniprisiiog the for#A I -rfnrcl' and' rear plates having the edgeirzumg .ing 'located therebetween, vbetween, which Aplates and the .training the inside layers ofv the drill-resisting material or metal and insulation are located;A

The framing may comprisean outerI i'nr Wardly extending Flange 22 and an inner- I' imvartlly'extending ange The plate 5 may be'rigidly secured to Athe outer plate 3 -hy sere'v\"s 24; and the outer 'plate rigidly securetl to the outer Hnge by screws 25.

The plate 6 .muy be rigidly secured to the plate 5 and thei'iange respectively by .screws 26am] 27. 'l'ho pluie Y muy be rigidly secured lto Other drill-resisting plates may be' Athe outer platte 31 by screwsv 35. This outer ne@ im, framing, and.

said layers of metal inner plate-being secured to theflatiby,

vdeparting from- `themetal plates arepreferably USUN-d l ingS thereof, loyal-'layer of insulation).

the ipk@ 'by Screws 28,111@ to rhs museums by Screws 29- The ends of fh--seresofigide insulated plates are `preferably receivedl tween the frontend rear flanges of the egiii'jy rsrning,v The. screwsf arelffireferably of drill-resisting metal and employed in suit# 4sible number and location to effect thepurposeof forming abuilt-up structure in which the layers of inside 'platesand"4 iii-*75 solution are :rigidly "secured in place.

I have shown a preferred 'form'"o jnmb employing my invention, in Whichfleb# .v sente an 'outerl plato whichfinayh'av'e. nn ingle-tlangeA-BQ extending inwardly there-A zrom. Y

331' represents a jambe e-framn rovided Withan outer ilaii 34 'secui'esi to platejmey be. Toffs, v tenacious .isteelgefor in? stance Bessemer or open hearth sfteelf" The f iaxnli' ramin'gfis preferably ofe One 'orvmore inside metal plates, "of ich-three are shown, :it 36, 37, 38, are

drill-resistingmaterial .offV t mentioned. They preferably ha. insulation shown" at tlrbetweenl and are separated fromy the outer' v i inner plates' respectively byV layers of l insulation 95 40 and 41'. They are spaced 'om the .jamb l framing at their edges by-a. layen'of,-msuj lation-42, which may be in the form of an insulation sheet between the:y sgi'tlxed'ges' o f l plates 'and linssulntions 101" md the framing. v

@Sie an inner plate for .the jamb, and 44 i isa plate,preferably of drill-'resisting 'teril of' the character. mentioned between said inner plate and the i jembraminggjh .102K lastmamed plate being lse'curedto them'lefr fiengef 45 ofthe janib framing byfmemsfl'of screws 4G l received therethrough said inner fiangeofvsaid janib frnmiligtthe screws 1&7, preferably of drillresisting met-al. The outer side. edges of feaidinside the metal framework, orvin'stalcef-'t'he'flin-- The insulation pi-'events 'iinielotricf-fe cuit being formed with' the-ins1demsulatedplates, sothat even-if the outigplates were penetrated by-.tbmployment of' the' electric arc,-the insulation loyers' wouldjarrest fur- 1,20 ther'penetration thereby.- The insulation layers also arrest further penetrationbythe oxygen-acetylene or :similari llangggnd by .the action of the substance therniitf-orsimllarsubstance, and by other known'm'ethods 125 y of attack by electrieity,heat or burning, the

tool-resisting plates preventing-penetrationy by drilling or similar action.' Even if the insulation were reached by one of the methods of .penetration und it were forcibly lo- 13' cally -removed', little further damage could be done, for the opening provided by such penetration would be inpractice small in diameter, and, if accomplished for instance4 side of the layer of insulationywhere the provided can be molten metal would pocket and immediately solidify. To continue the action, the molten metal must immediately run out of the way to permit the thermit to attack new metal. In practice only a small quantity of thermit in comparison to the size of opening employed at an ap lisation,

and while it acts quickly to melt t e metal,

it also isses its melting properties almost instantly' nd permits the metal to again solidify, and the attempt to dam up the thermit forholdinglit against the metal beyond the insulation as proven ineffectual.

:30 may of a vault/and 5l is the body thereof this body', being of suitable material and s own broken away. The adjacent edges of the door and jainb are preferably provided with stepped jambsurfaces, shown by the steps 52 onthe jamb and the ste s 53 on the door, aV portion of these ste being on the framings and a portion tisireof ormedby the overlapping of the plates. 1 In practice, the door preferably has a metal to metal fit with the jamb for preventing the introduction of an explosive vbetween the door und jamb. A usual method employed`I in burglarious attacks v:tor .introducing ahigh explosive such as nitro-glycerin between the door and th'e jamb, is to initiate an opening or cracl'between the same by forcingia very thin wedge between the door and the door-jamb- In order to prevent the introduction of a Wedge un* tool to a Sulli- -cient extent to have a wedging action, and to guard against the formation of an opening' or crack between the door and jamb, or a, springing of the metal thereof, in employing my invention, I have provided a shallow meeting joint and a lateral locking joint between the door and jamb for preventing lateral separation between the same.

l Thus in the, preferred form shown, I have provided the door-jamb with an outer rabbet 54, which surrounds the jamb at the outer edge oi' its jamb-surfuce, and preferably located in the outer plate 31, and the outer plate of the door is preferably pro vided with a peripheral shoulder 55, shown formed by an edge rabbet 56V which surrounds the door. The shoulder is received in the rabbet of the jamb, the front face 57 of the door being shown as extending forwardly of the front face 5S of the jamb and having its outer peripheral portion rounded as shown at 59. The outer 'rabbet 54 is shalrepresent the ordinary vestibule l low, and an attempt to introduce avvedgev .and the j'amb, at the jamb-surfaces, I provide the lame with mating laterally Y interlocking j oints.

comprising a groove 60 1n the jamb, a groove t'in the door, a tongue 62 on the jamb re-V ceived in the ove-61 o'thefdoriandl'. tongue 63011 t e door received in the groove 60 1n 'thejamln these tongues and grooves perefe'rably surrounding t e mating edges tween the door and jamb. The ton e and 'groove of the jamb are prefere ly formed in the jamb framing 33, and .the tongue and groove of the door are preferably formed in .the door, these ton es and grooves and the rabbets mentione being preferabl machined to :inaccurate metal to metal gli, tongues andgrooves preferabl adjacent the outer edges of the door and jamb, adjacent to the rabbet and shoulder mentioned, when the door is seated in the jamb, for insuring against the lateral opening of the joint between the door and jamb, and against springing of the metal, by which a crack between the same could be obtained. l 64 is an air-obstructing member or packlng betweeu'the walls ofl the groove and tongue and extending longitudinally thereof about the joint between the'door find iamb when the door is closed. It is shown re ceived in a channel 65 in the wall of the groove, the tongue being provided witlin projection 66, shown as u. knife-edge rib, which extends longitudinally thereof, and is adapted to enter the body of the air-obedgeraming 20 of they introduction thereof *be pre-fA A'ns These joints are' shown-as,

.with the structing packing when the door is closed for compressing said member, which is preferably a soft and slightly resilient body.

The rabbet and shoulder received thereby and the tongue and groove preferably surround the jamb surfacesbetween the door and jamb. Any attempttomelt `or burn through t-he door b at the jntnb surfaces would serve to 'sec :rely unite the door und jnmb by the welding or fusing ofthe metal thereof. The inside metal plates B6, 37 and 38 may be arranged in series of individual plates whose adjacent edges are separated by insulation fillingsv 69 in stag-` gered relation. Y

The door is suitably hingedto the body so as to seat the door in and withdraw it lfrom its seat in the jamb with ainovement.

at right angles to the front face of the door and alternate inside drillfresistin l. A safe or vault door built u ivvith outer and inner metal plates, an e ge-framing with inwardly extending lian es 'having rigid connection with said meta plates, inside 'alternate drill-resisting metal plate and insulation layers the former of .which embrace drill-resisting metal' plates of substantial area insulated from sald edge-fram-v ing and received into the cross-sectional planes of said edge raming extending' at right angles to the outer'tace osaid door.

2. A safe ,or vault door built up with outer and inner metal plates, a stepped edge-traming to which said plates are rigidly secured plate and insulation layers whose p anes of extension are parallel to the planes of extension of said first-named plates and 'com'- prising a .plurality of series of. separated ldrillfresisting metal plates arranged're'spectively ineoinc'ident upright planes" and indi,

vidually coincident in area Witli'substantial parts of'- the areas of said, first-named metal,

lates said res ective series'of'@ avrated l) 1 drill-resisting metal plates being re'eeivedg into the crosssectional planes of'saidedge-.

training extending at right anglesftojtlx'ejV outerace of said door, the adjacentedges" of said separated drill-resisting metal plates.

-of said respective series being insulated frein each other, and-sa1d adjacent yedgesfln ad' jacent series beingr in ott-set relation.

metal 0 5. A bmlt-up safe or vault structure cem- 7 prising outer adjinner ,plates of tenacious -metal, inside plates of. f d`rillfresisting' metal ad'acent thereto, a pla-rality of' series of insi edrill-resisting metal plates separated by 75 layers 'of insulationr from each' other and from said tlrst-naied plates, edge-framn received about" said 'last-named series4n insulated therefrom, each of said series oom'- prising drill-resisting metal plates having spaces betweentheir adjacent edges, the said spaces of alternate series arranged in stagf gered relation,. the said spaces havin insuating material therein, and the individual plates of said plrality of series of inside drill-resisting 'plates oeing. coincident in area with substantial portions of tlie'area of said frstffnam'ed plates-1.

6. In a structure of ythe character def scribed, the ermibinatin of. outer and inner 90,v

metal fplates, 4a metal edge-framingfrig'idly secure between: and adjacent to the outer edges otv said plates, and alternatelayers of;

metalj ancl'l'insnlation. 'between said first-- named plates, said'layers'of metal beingfin- 95 sulated from saidV first-namedwplates vand said'edge4framing. y' n Y,

of series "of inside drill-resistingfplates being eoinciln a structure 'of lthe'fcharacter', de-l f` 'I i named plates, said. layersof metal being'in edges.

scribed', thejcombination (1f-Outer and .inner .scribed, r t h'e combnationlof'outer andinner metal lates, a metal 'edgeframing rigidly 100 j' secure between and adjacentto the .outer 'i' edges of l said plates, alternate layers of metal and insulation VAbetween said `firstsulated from said Hirst-named plates andj i 'said ledge-frami'n,''said metal layers ooxn-` posed of a'zplurality of plates having adjaa; A cent "edg'es and Insulation between'saidf' 8, In a strncture the, character lvdei;

Abnilt-up sal'eor'vault door comprising metal p lates, \a metal-framingi-ri idly seenter and inner plates of tenacious metal, 'cured' bet-'Ween jandfadjacent .to t coter-155 f inside" plates of drill-resisting metal adjaledges" of s'aid plates',I alternate layers .fof1 cent thereto, inside insulated layers/of .d rillj v'rne'talpand Vinsulation.' between s'aid. 'l i rs t"`115l resisting plates and .'i'nsulating'material .be "j tween the latter., and an'ed'geframing for the 'door received about said insulated layers il. A built-ap Safe or ranlts'trzioture cein-A prisingfmter and inner platesotenacions 'sa id se edges, tbe. said sip ranged' m. staggered relation, tbe said spaces metal, pinside plates of drill4resisting metal adiacent tlierete, a' 'plurality oserisof in-V side drill-resisting metal plates' separated 'by layers of insulation from eaeb other and 12min .said irst-named inside plates. Cach of compi-ising drill-resisting metal plaies baring spaces between their adjacent of alternate series aredgesgtliesaidadjaeent'ed es of'siicceeding f A'series being arranged'in o set relation'.

'9. ln combination, AYin -a ,safe or vault, a

outer metal plate', a stepped edgefraniing,

extend in parallel planes, and insulating ni-= tei-inl interposed vlmtw'een each of said-mel al 13o and alternate inside metal plateandjnsula- 'tion layer' construction the layers whereof plate constructions and said respective stepped :trainings insulating the former from the latter.

1G. In combination, in a safe or vault, a door-jamb comprising an edge-framing part and an outer and an inner metal plate secured to said edge-framing part, and inside metal plates and insulation arranged in alternate layers between said rst-named metal lates, said inside metal plates insulated rom said edge-framing part.

ll. In combination, in a safe or vault, a body having a door-jamie thereon, an outer and an inner metal plate, a framing secured between the same, and inside metal plates and insulation arranged in alternate layers between said first-named metal plates, said inside metal plates insulated from said framing, and the said framing having steps of saiddoor-jamb thereon.

12. In a burglar-proof safe or vault, the combination of a jainb and a door, each of which is a built-up structure embracing an edge-framing and an outer plate, said edgeframings having stepped joints therebetween, and alternate inside layers of drillresisting metal and insulation extending into those planes of cross-sectional projection of said stepped joints Qwhich extend at right angles to the plane of projection of the cuterv face of said. door when said door is closed, said layers of drill-resisting metal insulated from said edge-trainings.

In testimony whereof, I have slgned my `naine hereto in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARNOLD S. CUSTER` Witnesses:

LILLIAN BURNETT, C. TATGENHORST, Jn 

